Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, left, has stepped down as chairman of a commission investigating the 9/11 attacks.
(Mike Theiler/Reuters)

Kissinger Resigns

Former Secretary of State Steps Down From 9/11 Panel, Cites Flap Over Clients

By Ron FournierThe Associated Press

W A S H I N G T O N , Dec. 13
 Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger stepped down today as chairman of a panel investigating last year's Sept. 11 attacks, citing controversy over potential conflicts of interest with his business clients.

"It is clear that, although specific potential conflicts can be
resolved in this manner, the controversy would quickly move to the
consulting firm I have built and own," Kissinger wrote in a letter
to President Bush, who appointed him. "I have, therefore,
concluded that I cannot accept the responsibility you proposed."

The decision was another blow for the fledging panel. Its
original vice chairman, former Sen. George Mitchell, D-Maine,
resigned from the commission Wednesday, partly because of pressures
to quit his law firm.

No replacement for Kissinger was announced, but Bush was
expected to fill the position soon.

Calls for Purely Independent Panel

Kissinger's resignation came one day after he tried to assure
victims' relatives that his business interests would not conflict
with his duties as chairman.

A leader of a relatives' group, Kristen Breitweiser of September
11th Advocates, said the Kissinger and Mitchell resignations
"reaffirms my belief that the commission needs to be pure,
transparent and purely independent."

Stephen Push of Families of Sept. 11 said Kissinger's
resignation gives Bush "a second chance to appoint someone who
will be a thorough and competent investigator."

Kissinger said he had told White House lawyers he was willing to
remove the appearance of conflict of interests by submitting "all
relevant financial information" to the White House and to an
independent review.

Kissinger called White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and told
him he was willing to disclose his client list, but feared that
would not be enough, and that critics would demand that he
liquidate his firm, a senior White House official said, speaking on
condition of anonymity. Kissinger said he could not liquidate
Kissinger Associates, his international consulting firm, without
delaying the commission's work.

A spokeswoman for Kissinger said he had no comment beyond his
letter to Bush. White House aides said the resignation was
Kissinger's idea.

Financial Statement Was Sticking Point

Bush issued a written statement saying he accepted Kissinger's
resignation with regret and that "his chairmanship would have
provided the insights and analysis the government needs to
understand the methods of our enemies and the nature of the threats
we face."

The commission will investigate events surrounding the attacks,
examining issues including aviation security, immigration and U.S.
diplomacy. It will build on a congressional inquiry, completed this
week, into intelligence failures.

Senators said all commission members must submit financial
disclosures that would reveal potential conflicts. That view was
supported by reports issued by Congress' research arm, the
Congressional Research Service.

But the White House contended Kissinger, as Bush's sole
appointee, should not have had to submit a report because the law
does not require presidential appointees to submit disclosures if
they are not drawing salaries.